Conor Benn’s opponent in his comeback fight, Rodolfo Orozco, ‘tests positive for a banned substance’ – a year after the welterweight fighter was involved in his own ongoing doping scandal

• Conor Benn twice tested positive for a banned substance, clomifene, last year
• His opponent in his comeback fight has also reportedly returned a positive test 
• Why big rivals Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren may be forced to work together MORE – The Hook 

Rodolfo Orozco – the opponent Conor Benn faced on his return to the ring after testing positive for a banned substance last year – has reportedly been involved in his own doping scandal.

Benn made headlines in October 2022 when his fight with Chris Eubank Jr was cancelled just days before it was due to happen when he twice tested positive for clomifene in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) test. 

Although his suspension in Britain was lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in July, the fighter is still facing a potential two-year ban in this country pending the outcome of appeals against that decision by the British Board of Boxing Control and UK Anti-Doping, as first reported by Mail Sport.

He returned to action after 17 months in September when he took on little-known Mexican Orozco in Orlando, with the BBCofC claiming at the time Benn had not cleared his name and shouldn’t be making a return to the ring.

Orozco took Benn the full ten rounds before losing to a unanimous decision in the US, but his performance in the bout has now attracted significant scrutiny.

Rodolfo Orozco (left), Conor Benn’s (right) opponent in his comeback fight in September, has reportedly tested positive for a banned substance 

It comes just over a year after Benn twice tested positive for clomifene in a VADA test

According to Boxing Scene, Orozco, 24, has returned a positive VADA test and the Florida Athletic Commission have suspended him pending an investigation.

Further details on the positive test, such as the substance, timing of the sample, or level of the banned matter are unclear, but the Mexican’s adverse finding is the latest high profile test failure in 2023.

It is also another unwelcome storm for Benn to be involved in after what has been a difficult year for the 27-year-old welterweight fighter.

Benn – who has maintained his innocence throughout his own saga and spent hundreds and thousands’ on scientists to clear his name – is currently in talks with Eubank Jr over rescheduling their fight.

His promoter Eddie Hearn revealed earlier this month it is most likely take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 3.

The aforementioned UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control appeal against the decision of NADP to lift Benn’s suspension, may not be heard, let alone resolved, until December or January at the earliest, Mail Sport understands. 

Therefore, Hearn wants Benn to be able to continue his career in the UK while the process remains ongoing and he is not suspended by UKAD.

During an interview with Mail Sport last month, Benn also revealed he had struggled to come to terms with the fact people will always associate his name with last year’s adverse finding and revealed how his father slumped into deep depression during the height of his clomifene case.

Benn said: ‘You know what, it was really hard for me to accept at one stage. I was thinking, I don’t even want to fight. If this is how it’s going to be, I don’t even want to fight.

‘It took my love away from boxing. From everything. The quicker you come to terms with it, the quicker you accept it, this is what it is. If I could change the testing that they do for clomifene, then in the end, it will be have been worth it.

‘I still wanted to work with UKAD, irrelevant of the outside. I am willing to work with them and that goes without saying. I wouldn’t have spent all this money, hundreds of thousands on legal fees and scientists for nothing.

Benn is currently in talks to reschedule his cancelled fight with Chris Eubank Jr early next year

The 27-year-old welterweight fighter has maintained his innocence throughout the whole saga 

‘So, if we can change the law on it that would be great. I can’t say it was worth it because it was so hard what I went through. But, I would feel better about the situations. That something good had come from this.’

Benn – who previously admitted to having suicidal thoughts after his career was thrown into jeopardy – went on to speak about the impact the situation has had on his family.

The 26-year-old said: ‘It definitely took its toll on my family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad so depressed. I have never seen him in such a bad way. It’s been a tough time. Then there’s Tony, Eddie, everyone’s been getting heat for the past year for this.

‘It was no fault of anyone’s, it was just a situation that happened and there was nothing we could do to stop the situation from happening. Could we have dealt with the situation better? Yeah we could have but you live and you learn. That’s that. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so here we are.’

Mail Sport contacted Benn’s representatives, Matchroom Boxing, for comment. 

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